Finally, we're getting to the really good stuff as the calendar gets set to turn.

What better way to ring in the New Year than with a bevy of college bowl games? Though you'll have to wait an extra day to start 2006 -- with New Year's Day falling on a Sunday, the home domain for the NFL, the biggest of bowl days has been shifted to Monday.

And, for the most part, these are the best of the best, although the advent of the Bowl Championship Series has now made Jan. 4 (or thereabouts) home base for the 'granddaddy of them all.'

Still, there's plenty to get excited about on Monday. Six games, every one of them matching up a pair of ranked teams.

And all of this far-from-dirty dozen actually deserves to be there.

The juiciest pairing of them all -- the Fiesta Bowl, which brings together Ohio State and Notre Dame, two of the most storied programs in college football history. Amazingly, it's only their fifth meeting ever. No wonder it's the most anticipated bowl this side of Texas-USC in the Rose (more on that one next week).

Keep an eye out, too, for the Sugar Bowl, transplanted to Atlanta this year because of Hurricane Katrina's devastation in New Orleans. Sure, it becomes a bit of a home game for SEC champion Georgia, but don't underestimate West Virginia, a Big East king that's sneaky good.

Let's take a closer look at the football fare that rings in 2006:

COTTON BOWL

(at Dallas)

No. 18 Texas Tech (-31/2) vs. No. 13 Alabama (Monday, 11 a.m., Fox) -- Major contrast in styles here. Red Raiders average 530 ypg, while Crimson Tide has only allowed 118 points all year. Alabama stumbled down the stretch after a 9-0 start. DeMeco Ryans and the defence make the most of chance for redemption against a pass-happy foe. PICK: ALABAMA.

OUTBACK BOWL

(at Tampa, Fla.)

No. 16 Florida (-11/2) vs. No. 25 Iowa (Monday, 11 a.m., TSN) -- Few teams were hotter than Hawkeyes at season's end, thanks to maturing defence. They'll be tested by QB Chris Leak and Gators, who figure to be the fan favourites here. Iowa used a last-play TD to beat an SEC team in a bowl last year. More dramatics, perhaps? PICK: IOWA.